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John Edmonds Kozma's Unimpressed Podcast
America Ninja Warrior Daniel Gil: How to Win a TV Show Competition
Daniel was born and raised in Houston, TX. The second oldest of five kids who were all homeschooled, Daniel was always a fun-loving adventurer. Growing up, he spent much time outdoors, climbing trees and playing sports. Fun fact: he wasn’t very good at any sports he played as a kid. He loved being active and was competitive enough not to quit when things got tough. During high school, his focus turned to new passions such as singing, dancing, acting, and the performing arts. He also became more involved in his home church through music ministry.
After graduating high school, he attended a two-year ministry school, received an associate degree, and simultaneously began coaching & training at Iron Sports Ninja Gym. In 2015, he began his rookie year competing on season 8 of American Ninja Warrior and, thus, his journey to becoming one of the top athletes on the show. That season, they launched him into his athletic career with accomplishments like 8 x National Finalist and the 2020 Champion of American Ninja Warrior title. He was also selected to compete on multiple All-Stars episodes and USA VS. The World Competitions. He was a team captain of seasons 1-3 of Ninja vs. Ninja and even had the opportunity to travel abroad to compete internationally in Ninja Warrior Indonesia, representing Team USA.
This recognition and success gave Daniel opportunities to begin traveling and become a motivational speaker. His goal is to use his platform to help inspire people to get back up when they inevitably fall or fail, overcome the obstacles they will face, and never stop pursuing their God-given dreams.
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150. Charles Busch: How to Be a Successful Entertainer in the LGBTQ+ Community
28:19Charles Busch is a multi-talented entertainer known for his work as a playwright, actor, director, novelist, cabaret performer, and drag icon. He has written and starred in over 25 plays, including Off-Broadway's longest-running play, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom. His Broadway hit, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, won the Outer Circle Critics' John L. Gassner Award for playwrighting, received a Tony nomination for Best Play, and ran for 777 performances. Busch has also acted in films and TV shows, such as HBO's OZ, and directed two films, including one that won an honorable mention at the Tribeca Film Festival. He is a guest programmer and lecturer at many colleges and universities, including NYU, Harvard, UCLA, and Amherst College. He has also won two MAC awards for his cabaret performances and toured his act in many cities worldwide. In recognition of his outstanding career, Busch has received a special Drama Desk Award and a star on the Playwrights Walk outside the Lucille Lortel Theatre. He is also the subject of the acclaimed documentary film The Lady in Question by Charles Busch. Busch's first CD, Charles Busch Live at Feinstein's 54 Below, was released by Broadway Records.149. Author Ronald Olivier: How I Survived Angola Prison
34:40In one of America's most notorious prisons, a young man sentenced to life without parole miraculously found faith, forgiveness, redemption, and restoration. In 27 Summers, Ronald Olivier shares his dramatic and powerful story and offers proof that God can bring healing and hope to even the darkest circumstances.As a teenager, Ronald Olivier ran wild in the streets of New Orleans, selling drugs, stealing cars, and finally killing someone on what was supposed to be the happiest day of the year—Christmas Day. Facing the consequences of his crime, he remembered what his mother once said. "Baby, if you ever have real trouble, the kind that I can't get you out of, you can always call on Jesus." So he did.Ron was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Through the agony of solitary confinement and multiple transfers into increasingly dangerous prison environments, Ron kept seeking God for healing and hope. Finally, after being locked up for twenty-seven summers at the notorious Louisiana State Penitentiary—known as Angola—Ron was miraculously released. Remarkably, he became the director of chaplains at Mississippi State Penitentiary. Today, Ron loves to combat hopelessness, wherever he finds it, by saying, "Don't tell me what God can't do!”148. Author Rosa Miller: How I Escaped the Darkness of an Abusive Amish Childhood
33:17Although she appreciates many aspects of the culture she was raised in, the abuse she suffered at the hands of her brother and the lack of support she received from the rest of her family ultimately led her down a different path that would be characterized by light instead of the darkness that had shrouded her all her life.My Path to Light: How I Escaped the Darkness of an Abusive Amish Childhood paints a comprehensive picture of what it means to be Amish and how her experience was unique, but not for the better. With gut-wrenching honesty and earnest introspection, Rosa Miller opens up about the highs and lows of her upbringing, her internal struggle over conflicting beliefs, and how she drew the courage to leave her family behind in pursuit of a brighter future. Set off on the path to spiritual and emotional liberation with Rosa as she vividly describes various facets of the Amish lifestyle. Hold her heart in your hands as she bravely discusses the molestation she endured and how she stood up against it to protect her younger female family members. And walk alongside Rosa as she commits to following Jesus and using Him to guide her life journey. With My Path to Light, you will be inspired to march out of the darkness and into the light, just as Rosa did.147. Political Strategist Melissa DeRosa: How to Work For a Governor
28:28From April 2013 to August 2021, Melissa DeRosa served as Communications Director, Strategic Advisor, Chief of Staff, and Secretary to Governor Cuomo. Ms. DeRosa is the first woman to ever serve as Secretary to the Governor, the highest unelected position in state government.She spearheaded the Governor’s campaigns to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, enact the nation’s most robust paid family leave program, and establish the Excelsior Scholarship, making New York the first state in the country to provide free public college tuition for middle- and low-income families, mandate insurance coverage for medically-necessary IVF, and played a crucial role in managing the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Ms. DeRosa founded and served as Chair of the New York State Council on Women and Girls, established by the Governor to recognize and advance women’s rights in New York State, as well as the New York State COVID-19 Maternity Task Force and the COVID-19 Domestic Violence Task Force. In 2020, Ms. DeRosa also served on the President Biden-elect’s transition committee, advising the incoming administration’s COVID response.Before joining the Governor’s office, Ms. DeRosa worked in the Attorney General’s Office as Deputy Chief of Staff and Acting Chief of Staff and as New York State Director of Organizing for America (OFA), President Obama’s national political action organization.She holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations and a master’s degree in Public Administration, both from Cornell University. She has served on the executive board of the Women’s Leadership Forum Network of the Democratic National Committee.146. America's Shaman Jacob Chansley: What happened on January 6th at the Capital?
57:48Jake Angeli-Chansley is a Shamanic practitioner, published author, former Navy sailor, podcaster, and spiritual activist. The media has given him the names Q-Shaman, Qanon Shaman, and MAGA Shaman, but his actual Shamanic name is Yellowstone Wolf. He pleaded guilty to a single charge for his involvement in the January 6th Capitol entry and is currently running for Congress in Arizona.145. Stuntman & Author Fred North: How to Be a Motion Picture Helicopter Pilot
30:59Fred North is a world-renowned helicopter stunt pilot with over two hundred movies in his portfolio. He has worked with the industry’s top directors and logged over fifteen thousand hours shooting feature films and commercials. In 2002, he became the world record holder for altitude with a helicopter. He is licensed to fly worldwide, and the FAA has approved his Motion Picture Safety Manual. Originally from Paris, France, Peggy North grew up in the film industry. She is a trained pilot with years of experience as an aerial coordinator and stunt double. Her portfolio includes action films such as Fast Five, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and Battleship. She is also the founder of Fire and Crème, a luxury event production company. She and her husband, Fred, reside in Malibu and have three children.144. Author-Speaker-Mentor Daniel Fielding: How to Surround Yourself with Positive People
36:30Daniel Fielding is the author of The Asset Mindset: A Special Forces Perspective for Achieving Success. The book is a must-read for anyone looking to transform their thought patterns to attain elite levels of success and encourages readers to build a mindset that can create positive change in their lives.Daniel won several martial arts tournaments and two National Championships as a teenager. Following 9/11, Fielding enlisted as a soldier in the U.S. Army and was later selected to become a Special Forces Green Beret. After leaving the Special Forces, he was a bodyguard for celebrities like Kid Rock. Daniel is driven by the Special Forces motto “De Oppresso Liber,” which he applies to freeing people from their restrictive thought patterns.He is a sought-after speaker for his insights on personal development and, based on his own life experiences, offers guidance on taking ownership of your life and effectively pursuing goals. In his book and his keynote talks, he gives accessible and thought-provoking advice on how to identify and change negative behaviors, create a mindset you can be proud of, and learn how to overcome any obstacle.He is a loving husband and father of three and enjoys the outdoors.143. Justin "Mooch" DeLeoretto: From Street Gangs to Motorcycle Clubs to Social Worker
25:37Justin joined a 1 %-er motorcycle club pursuing age-old values of brotherhood, honor, and respect. He never lost those values, but he watched them come under fire in America as clearly as in club life, where gaining personal power became the highest objective, rather than honoring the code that once bound his community.Pursuing a new career in social work, Justin carried the old values to a new generation of youth caught in the riptide of a world increasingly defined by personal gain over communal well-being.142. Pro Football Player & Author Steve Wright: How to Play in The NFL
36:12Steve Wright, a playful and innately curious soul, enjoyed an eleven-year professional football career with the Cowboys, Colts, and Raiders, yet these years did not define him. Driven by his entrepreneurial instincts, he created an innovative misting company, Cloudburst, that cooled professional sports, the US military, NASA, and the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. Forever a lover of adventure, Steve joined the cast of Survivor for thirty-one days of starvation, where he embraced the jungle of Nicaragua and emerged more passionate about life. His journey of continuous growth includes an unparalleled passion for physical and mental fitness, which he practices and shares with his community in Malibu, California.